Economy Archive June 2010

The High Court has farewelled one of the country's expatriate Judges in a ceremonial sitting in Honiara.

The Minister of Infrastructure Development, the Honourable Stanley Sofu, has announced a major step in the reform of the maritime sector of Solomon Islands.

Solomon Islanders continue to benefit from New Zealand's Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) Scheme, which began in 2007, thanks to the ongoing interest of New Zealand employers who recruit our workers.

The Solomon Island's new phone company, Be-Mobile, has been fined USD$1.5m (SBD$12m) for failing to launch its network on time.

Child clubs of Honiara will be displaying their talents and voicing their views on child rights today at the Cultural Village in Honiara.

The Solomon Island's City Council has been receiving complaints against inferior rice sold by local businesses in Honiara.

The Solomon Islands Gold Ridge Mining Limited will be getting a 35-million US dollar loan from the International Finance Corporation - a member of the World Bank Group to help restart.

Over the weekend, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake that struck Kira Kira in the Makira Province caused no Tsunami threats but could be felt throughout parts of the Solomon Islands.

Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Dr, Derek Sikua, has described the Pacific-Arab Summit as a historic event and a unique opportunity for Pacific Island countries to exchange views and dialogue with the Arab World on the prospects for cooperation between the two regions.

The United Kingdom International Scout Commissioner, Mr Nigel Hailey last week paid a two-day visit to the Solomon Islands.

Solomon Islands' Minister of Planning and Aid Coordination, Hon. Steve Abana last week signed the Second Revised Cotonou Agreement in a historic event in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, at the close of the 35th Session of the ACP-EU Council of Ministers.

Solomon Airlines are proud to confirm that their very own Pilots are now qualified on the Dash 8 aircraft as First Officers.

The Police have again closed down the popular Kauvare nightclub night club on Northwest Guadalcanal.

The government and the World Bank today signed a support agreement towards the recently established Independent Telecommunications Commission in Honiara.

Premier of Guadalcanal province, Stephen Panga has made an advance visit to the provincial capital of Malaita, Auki, ahead of the Guadalcanal sporting contingent to the Solomon Games which kick off tomorrow.

Solomon Islands Commissioner of Inland Revenue made clear today that companies contracted by RAMSI are not exempted from paying tax to the Solomon Islands Government.

Republic of China, Taiwan, has released $5 million dollars towards the governments "2010 Fee Free Education Project."

The High Court has convicted a former Member of Parliament on charges of official corruption while his co-accused, also a former member of Parliament, was acquitted on the same charges.

The Minister of Mines, Energy and Rural Electricity, David Day Pacha has appointed members of an Isabel Nickel International Tender committee.

Intending candidate in the race for East Kwaio parliamentary seat in Malaita, Alfred Sasako, says he is not afraid of threats by Solomon Islands Honorary Consul in Sydney, Sir Dr Trevor Garland to press criminal libel charges against him.

Prime Minister Derek Sikua is leading a government delegation to attend the Pacific-Arab Summit in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates from the 23rd - 24th of this month.

Solomon Islands premier fishing and processing company, Soltai is to undergo a financial restructure.

The Electoral Commission has improved the security of ballot papers for the upcoming coming National General Election.

Former Central Bank Governor Rick Hou has disassociated himself from promises and advice that he is the money man for the Family Charity Fund.

Auki police are gearing up for what is expected to be a major security operation in the township.

Many developing nations insisted at UN climate talks on Wednesday that a full UN treaty should be agreed in 2010 even though others are resigned to a far longer haul to tackle global warming.

A government group has gone to Rennell Bellona Province over the weekend to discuss issues surrounding the closure of the Tinngoa airstrip.

A controversial former city councilor, John Seth Iromea, has been found guilty on charges of going armed in public and using threatening behavior.

Several delegates attending the latest UN Climate Change Forum talks in Germany have conceded there is little chance of getting a draft agreement on cutting greenhouse gas emissions finalised ahead of the next major talks in December.

Police have arrested a taxi driver, said to be in his early 40s, early yesterday morning in relation to the murder of a young police constable.

A High Court order restraining Eternity Broadcasting Network (EBN) Television and three other defendants from televising any FIFA World Cup games in South Africa has today been extended to a fifth defendant, Sol-Lanka PTY Limited.

Police are searching for a cop killer, who was said to have been intoxicated and travelling with a group of men in a taxi.

The Eternity Broadcasting Network Television or EBN has decided not to pursue a High Court order restraining it from televising any world Cup coverage.

Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua will lead a government delegation to attend the Pacific Arab Summit in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates towards the end of this month.

Supply of Solomon Islands canned tuna will decline in the next few months if production at Noro Cannery in the Western Province does not resume.

Permanent Secretary of the Minister of Commerce, Industries, Employment and Immigration, Barnabas Anga has highlighted the need for Solomon Islands to broaden its development base.

While a high-level government delegation from the Solomon Islands continue hard negotiations for a legally-binding climate change deal in Germany, a climate change team from the Ministry of Environment was deployed to the Choiseul Province for consultations and awareness raising workshop on climate change.

OUR Party has pledged to commit $50 million dollars for a nationwide relocation programme for victims of climate change if elected into power at this year's national general elections.

The Suava Bay Economic Growth Center Project in North Malaita is aimed at enabling full and equitable participation of resource owners in their endeavor for rural development and sustainable livelihoods, says Permanent Secretary of Commerce, Barnabas Anga.

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) today approved an 18-month SDR 12.48 million (about USD 18.3 million) arrangement under the Standby Credit Facility for the Solomon Islands in support of the authorities' economic reform program.

The Solomon Islands Government today welcomed the passing of the National Transport Fund Act which will provide a long term sustainable mechanism for the rehabilitation and maintenance of transport infrastructure and will support the provision of inter-island shipping services in Solomon Islands.

The National Government will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the Suava Bay Project with the Malaita Provincial Government and Tribal Landowners of Suava Bay today.

Two Solomon Islanders will be travelling to Israel on Friday under a short term scholarship programme.

Questions are being raised as to whether imported goods are being checked properly when entering the country.

The Recently launched Rapid Employment Project, REP, funded by the World Bank, is already getting some blunt assessments on its ability to deliver, but more so on its intended recipients.

The Rapid Employment Project, REP, was officially launched by the Government yesterday.

Lack of funding should not weigh out commitment in the fight against HIV/AIDS, says the Director of Public Health.